The Epix Gen 2 is Garmin’s new top-of-the-line multisport sports watch. It is actually the very recently introduced Fenix 7 but with the display of the Venu 2 Plus and for those who pay close attention, a few functions and options less. It’s ‘The Garmin to end all Garmins’, at least while it lasts. Read our verdict in this Garmin Epix 2 review.
Garmin Epix 2
Recommended retail price €899.90 (Gorilla Glass), €999.90 (Sapphire Glass)
Colors black titanium, white titanium, slate gray steel
Platform Android, iOS
Screen amoled (154 x 72)
Format 47 x 47 x 14.5mm
Weight 53 grams steel/47 grams titanium (case only)
Sensors heart rate monitor, accelerometer, breathing rate, oximeter, sleep monitor, barometric altimeter, thermometer, pedometer
Connectivity wifi, bluetooth, ANT+
Other waterproof, interchangeable straps, Garmin Pay
Website www.garmin.com 9 Score 90 
- Pros
- Ease of use
- Sports Features
- health features
- Garmin Connect
- Smart functions (notifications, smartphone control)
- Negatives
- No LTE
The new frontrunner in multisport sports watches is called the Epix or Epix Gen 2 in full, because there was already a model with this name before. The Epix is the recently introduced Fenix 7 but with the 416 x 416 pixel size and 64,000 color colorful AMOLED screen of the Venu 2 Plus. For the first time Garmin offers a sports watch in the high-end segment without sticking to a memory-in-pixel display (MIP), which even on the top model Fenix is only 216 x 216 pixels in size and 64 colors (not a thousand, 64 ) supports.
The Epix also simply proves wrong with the arguments that were always used before, namely the lower energy consumption and the better readability in sunlight. Even in full sun, the screen of the Epix is excellent to read and no complaints about the battery life either. With normal use, the Epix lasts an average of six days on a single charge, including one or more vigorous workouts every day.
Only when you really heavily load the Epix and, for example, continuously play music on a wirelessly connected headset, the battery life drops to 10 hours, but how realistic is that. Moreover, you can also extend the battery life enormously by, for example, only switching on the screen when you turn the watch towards you, switching off the image automatically during the night and also by simply using a dark watch face, such as Garmin ex works. also does.
Charging is also fast, an hour or less is sufficient, and there is always time for it over a period of a few days. Garmin could also make charging easier by finally opting for a standard charging plug instead of the clumsy proprietary format. Garmin owners probably spend more time finding that Garmin charging cable than the charging itself.
Touch and Press
Of course, the Epix offers the possibility to do this via the touch screen as well as via the five (!) real buttons. It is double but at the same time the perfect combination for operating a sports watch. Touch works great when you’re not exercising and just scrolling through the many screens with analysis and performance, when playing music or reading an incoming message. Buttons are perfect for starting or stopping a timer while exercising, or for scrolling through a menu and confidently turning a feature on or off.
That function can also be the entire touch screen, it can be easily switched off and on. In addition to synchronization with the smartphone and online services, the Garmin Connect app also offers more and more options to set up the Epix from the smartphone.
Sports Features
As mentioned, the Epix is everything the Fenix is, and that is especially true when it comes to sports. The emphasis is on running, cycling, swimming but also golf, skiing, surfing, tennis, padel and many more sports are supported. As a multisport sports watch, the Epix also offers combinations of sports such as triathlon, duathlon, brick (running after cycling) but also others.
There is also plenty of support for indoor sports such as fitness and strength training, but also treadmill running, indoor rowing or cycling with a bicycle trainer. The Epix can be connected directly to the devices used for this via Bluetooth or ANT+, such as a treadmill, rowing machine or the very popular bicycle trainers.
Recording everyday and special sports activities with the Epix provides an enormous amount of data about the activities, but also one’s own health and fitness, thanks to GPS, altimeter, accelerometer, heart rate monitor and blood oxygen level meter. Thanks to the screen, these can already be viewed very well on the Epix itself, but you can also do this online via the Garmin Connect app or via services that can be linked yourself, such as Strava or TrainingPeaks. Those who are sensitive to it are greatly stimulated to get better.
Garmin is also increasingly helping with this with, in addition to user-defined load zones and training sessions, ready-made training plans, advice for rest and recovery and, for example, analyzes such as an expected time for a half or full marathon given the current training effort. With a sports watch like the Epix, the athlete leaves very little to be desired.
Two models, no ultimate
There are currently two models of the Epix, the Standard and the Sapphire. The standard has a screen with Gorilla Glass DX, the Sapphire the harder Sapphire crystal with less chance of annoying scratches. In addition, the Sapphire has a titanium housing versus stainless steel in the standard, 32GB versus 16GB storage space for music and maps and multiband GPS. The latter offers more accurate location determination for, for example, navigation or recording the traveled route.
Under normal circumstances, standard GPS (or GLONASS or Galileo) will do for everyone, but in the mountains or among many high-rise buildings where it can be difficult to receive a consistent GPS signal, using multiple systems can be valuable. Garmin Pay is of course available for contactless payments, which Dutch banks also work with and it is possible to use a payment function on the Epix secured with a pin code. Incoming messages are displayed as well as news and weather reports.
On the Sapphire edition of the Epix, the maps of the own region are preloaded, on the standard version this still has to be done via the map manager. This is not going to happen quickly, a region like Europe takes several hours. The cards themselves are free for life with both models. Although a map and pre-synced route is fine to see, it is still difficult to navigate through such a small screen, no matter how beautiful the screen is.
Compared to the Fenix series, there are no Solar editions with a solar cell under the screen, with which the battery can be recharged. How much that would make a difference with a still more energy-hungry AMOLED screen remains to be seen. A greater lack, certainly with a premium model with this price tag, is the lack of LTE, just like with Fenix. The Epix does offer live tracking and alarms, but only in combination with a smartphone.
Conclusion
For the moment there is no better choice for sports watches than the new Garmin Epix. It beats all models from competing brands as well as all other Garmins including the recently updated Fenix and Venu 2 Plus.
The choice for an AMOLED screen on a high-end multisport sports watch works out well and only a few endurance athletes will fall short with the offered battery life. While the Epix is well worth its price, it is a lot of money and for that you would actually want LTE functionality for live tracking without a smartphone.